Michael Chopra reveals gambling addiction has cost him up to £2m

Michael Chopra said he signed for Sunderland because he needed the signing-on fee to cover gambling debts. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

The Ipswich Town striker Michael Chopra has revealed he has gambled away up to £2m and played through injury to cover a debt. The former Newcastle, Cardiff and Sunderland player recently checked into the Sporting Chance Clinic to address his addiction.

Chopra said: "Your first bet's your worst bet. As the years have come along and I've earned more money I've started to gamble more. I was gambling up to £20,000 a day at times. As soon as I'd step over the white line I would focus on football – but as soon as I got to the dressing room I would check my phone to see if I'd won.

"As a gambler you want to be playing to get the appearance money. I was playing through injury to cover a debt."

Chopra, who is a Newcastle fan, revealed he left Cardiff for Sunderland because the signing-on fee would pay off a gambling debt.

"In my first season at Cardiff I had a gambling debt from when I was at Newcastle. I had to leave Cardiff and sign for another team to pay that debt off. I have probably lost between £1.5m and £2m on gambling."

However, with the help of the Sporting Chance Clinic, Chopra wants to repay the faith Ipswich have shown in him and help them back to the Premier League.

He added: "The main thing now is to get promoted with Ipswich. They've backed me and I want to pay them back."